Metropolitan students in years three, five and seven have been ahead of their country counterparts in every NAPLAN test in the five years to 2017.

The gap was particularly wide in year three, where the average grammar and punctuation score was 63.6 points higher in the city compared with remote areas.

It was also 49.6 points higher in spelling and 43.7 points higher in reading.

Results show country students are lagging behind city kids. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

Mitchell Institute director Megan O’Connell said poorer early learning services in rural areas means kids were behind before they even got to school.

“More young children in regional and remote areas are starting school behind and they are less likely to catch up,” she said.

“They have fewer education opportunities in early learning, throughout school and when accessing post-school study and training.

“And the challenges extend beyond the education system — young people in rural and regional areas have less access to technology, healthcare and mental health services, which can all impact education outcomes.”

Research from the Grattan Institute found that city students typically performed better at school because their parents were often more highly educated and had higher levels of “professional employment”.

The Institute’s Peter Goss said governments needed to “lean in” with extra support for country Victorians to improve education across generations.

“The more educated a parent is, the better off the child will be,” he said.

“That is why when someone from a disadvantaged background can break through with a good education, it can change the trajectory of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

City students are more likely to finish year 12. Picture: Sam RuttynSource:News Corp Australia

The state opposition has promised $80 million to build “integrated education hubs” in regional and rural areas, that come with early childhood learning, health services and tertiary education.

The government has also ramped up its spending, increasing equity funding for rural and regional students from $298 in 2015 to $837 this year.

The equivalent funding for metropolitan students increased from $269 to $550 in the same time.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said all children deserved a great education no matter where they lived.

“We know we need to do more to bridge the gaps in our system for the kids that need it the most,” he said.

“That’s why under our government, kids in regional and rural Victoria received almost double the increase in the equity funding for things like numeracy and literacy support than their metropolitan counterparts.”